THERE'S ALWAYS A LEANING PLACE
XVIII Parts

The day is not too bright yet. After dawn worshipers Pak Haris family took a walk around the complex. It's a routine activity. Usually, there are only three of them. This time they were five because there was Via and Farhan.

“Mothers want to stop by the market?” ask Mr. Haris.

“Yes, as usual. Anyone want to order something?”

“Tap, Bun,” pinta Azka.

“Dad and Farhan order what?”

“Father with cenil.”

“Cenil? It's like glue, Dad,” Azka said.

“But it's delicious. Chewy, sweet, savory.”

“Iya, later if there is Mother Beikan. Farhan?”

“Tap equals cenil.”

“Wah, greedy his name,” protest Azka.

“Biarina. Mother does not protest, you protest. Weeek..”.

“Jelek, ihh.”

Via smiled at Farhan and Azka. Like this, Farhan looks normal in Via's eyes.

“Eh, Via not offered?” ask Mr. Haris.

“Via will join Mother in the market. Let him choose his own that he likes,” explained Bu Aisyah.

“Oh, take that much, yes Vi,” whispered Azka.

“Why tell me?” ask Via astonished.

“Ah, you are not sensitive. Why even nanya? Hard again,” grumbled Azka.

Via looked at Azka full of astonishment. He did not understand Azka's intentions.

Mr. Haris saw the confusion Via became amused and then explained, "He's in mode, Vi. He didn't want to, but there was plenty to eat. You want to choose a lot of food for him."

Via chuckles. He's shaking his head.

"If what Via chose was not liked by Mas Azka, how? Can be redundant."

"Ah, Azka is kayak gentong. Anything goes in," teased Mr. Haris.

"Ih, you bad father. Don't be so honest, dong!" azka protest.

They finally laughed together. Until the market, Ms. Aisyah withdrew Via's hand to accompany shopping.

Half an hour later, both hands of Bu Aisyah and Via carrying a large bag containing groceries. They seem troubled.

"We'll just ride the rickshaw, yeah."

"Don't ask to be picked up by Mas Azka, Bun?"

"No need. It's not too far. Counting recreation as well as being an intermediary for the rizki road for the rickshawman."

Ms. Aisyah approached one of the rickshawmen who was sitting waiting for passengers. He's about 60 years old.

"Sir, how much does Jalan Melati cost?"

"Twenty-five thousand, ma'am."

"Take it there, yeah."

"Good, Mom. Please Mom and her go up first. Let my groceries go up later."

After Bu Aisyah and Via sat comfortably, the rickshawman arranged the groceries on the rickshaw floor. Slowly the pedicab drove to the rhythm of the pedicab driver. Twenty minutes later, they arrived. The rickshawman ran small forward to bring down the groceries.

"Let's stop first, sir. Have you had breakfast?"

"Thank you, Mom. No need to bother."

"No bother, really. At least eat stomach food first. Early in the morning, I was in the market. Is my wife done cooking?"

"Not yet, Mom."

"Eat him, come on, stop by for a second."

Finally, the rickshawman followed the words of Ms. Aisyah. However, he did not want to enter, choosing to sit on the terrace. Miss Aisyah gave up.

"Vi, make coffee for this guy."

While Via makes coffee, Bu Aisyah prepares getuk and fried bananas.

When Bu Aisyah and Mr. Haris chatted with the pedicabeer, Via returned to the kitchen. He arranged freshly purchased vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator.

"Viaaah!" there was a familiar call in Via's ears.

"You said you wanted badminton on Sunday. Come on!"

"Yes, budar. Via finish your shopping first."

"Yes, I'm helping."

Azka crouched down to help Via. No more than 5 minutes of their work is in order. Via followed Azka to the badminton court next to the house.

"The package?"

"Now, I'm ready."

They also started to fight. Although female, Via can compensate Azka game. Smash his cross often turn off Azka's steps.

"Huff, you're tough as it turns out," Azka said with a breath of frenzy.

"Ah, Mas Azka was too complimentary. It was clearly Mas Azka who won."

"But it's hard to get points. Tomorrow I propose that you represent this RT in the 17th race."

Spontaneous laugh. He felt funny because he had never participated in a race during the celebration of HUT RI.

"Together with Mas Azka it feels comfortable, I can laugh loosely," murmured Via inwardly.

"Brek first, Mas. I'm gonna go in first, get a drink."

When Via entered, he saw the rickshawman saying goodbye. Interested in Ms. Aisyah's treatment, Via came out.

"Thank you, Mister, Ma'am. I'm back again."

"See, this is the fare," said Bu Aisyah while giving a red sheet of money.

"Well fit, Mom. I didn't bring a dime and a new narik."

"Take the change."

"But this is mostly, Mom."

"It's okay, don't hesitate! I'm sincere, really."

"Alhamdulillah. Well, thank you very much. I have been given breakfast, given more money. Thank you, Ma'am, sir. May the windfall of the family of the Mother Father add a lot."

"Aamiin," said Pak Haris and Bu Aisyah together.

"Come, excuse me. Assalamualaikum."

"Getishalight."

Via was stunned watching the treatment of his adoptive parents. He did not think that Bu Aisyah was that good to an unknown rickshawman.

"They? Long time at the door? Can you help me clean this up?" tegur Bu Aisyah's.

Via flinched in shock. The daydream fell apart instantly.

"Yes, Bun."

"Have you played badminton?" ask Mr. Haris.

"Yes, same with Azka."

"Well, sweat is like that."

Via chuckled. He immediately finished his task, bringing dirty glasses and dishes to the kitchen.

"Bun, can you please? ask Via while washing dishes.

"Why did Mother exceed the cost of the rickshaw earlier? Do you really have no spare change?"

"Money means nothing to us but means a lot to others. Moreover, the rickshawman was the person Mother values honest and responsible. He said that he lived in a house with his wife who was often sick. Her three children were wandering and rarely came home. Poor, right? If Mother gives money directly, it can hurt her self-esteem."

Via was silent for a moment. He did not expect his mother to think of helping people without degrading her.

"That's also Mommy lacquered to vegetable traders? Via never saw their trading mothers. Usually, as Via knows, mothers are painstaking nawar. Economic principles are applied earnestly."

Miss Aisyah smiled gently.

"They're small traders. Their benefits are not much. For a bundle of kale most they take fortunately Rp 500.00 maximum Rp 1,000.00. How many bindings a day? How much are they earning? In supermarkets that are more expensive just sincerely not nawar, why with small traders even more calculation? Sometimes for the sake of prestige people forget humanity."

"I mean Mother?"

"People often shop in supermarkets without thinking the price is expensive. The shopping turn in traditional markets, they tenaciously bid. In fact, even without being bargained the price in the traditional market is cheaper. Perhaps they never thought of the earnings of traders in the traditional market."

The long explanation from Bu Aisyah made Via stunned. How low his care was also his family first. He has a lot to learn from his new family.

***

Sorry there's a talk. Hopefully useful 🙏🙏🙏

continue tomorrow 🙂